Hello internet world. It's been awhile since we've talked. I started writing an article last week, but then I realized that I didn't know enough about comic books to write out a full 7 points list, so I posted it as a 3 points list on Podtact's blog. Curse you Handley for calling this "7 Deadly Lists."
Anyway, I was then surfing the interwebs and I stumbled upon a website that was either designed several years ago or designed by someone who failed their 8th grade computer class. It tickled my funny bone and I was intrigued to start researching trends in web design. I then decided it would be fun to compile this into a 7 step evolution for your enjoyment.
1. Hello? Tubes? Can You Hear Me?
Oooo! Blue underlined links!
1991 was a fun year. I assume. I was 5, so I don't have distinct memories of 1991. According to Wikipedia, it was a common year that started on a Tuesday. Not a bad way to start a year. There was that whole Dr. Jack Kevorkian thing. Wasn't that a mess? The younger sister of Britney Spears was born, so there's that. Oh, and the first web site ever was launched.
This website was basically the internet's ReadMe, and had links to information explaining what was going on and how to use the tubes. As you can see, very few HTML tags had been developed, and these early sites were definitely putting function over form. They existed for a purpose and that purpose was to share information amongst other researchers and intellectual types. One website that I used for research claims that at this point, websites were being created by programmers, not designers.
2. <IMG> LolWut?
Much better...
Pretty soon, programmers realized that this whole internet thing was catching on with people who have met and were able to hold a conversation with a female. Unfortunately, these people aren't as smart as the programmers and get bored reading books that don't have pictures. A solution was needed to get more people interested in the internet, and that solution was <img>. The HTML tag that would eventually allow us to look at cats in funny situations with silly captions. Or should I say "cat-tions?" No. I should not have said cat-tions. Please forgive me.
As you can see, there wasn't much improvement at this point, but only because programmers hadn't been replaced by designers yet. At this point, the new images were mostly being used to insert an occasional picture or the company's logo. People were still using their phone lines, which meant more pictures created longer loading times. And that's never good.
3. Netscape, Table for Two!
Look! More than one column!
Tables. Now we're starting to get somewhere! Originally, the table tag was introduced so that programmers and smart people could post sets of data to share with each other. I mean, what's more interesting than an online Excel file? Oh, that's right, the realization that we can use tables for better looking sites!
At this point, programmers are starting to get phased out by web designers. Information is starting to get laid on in more visually appealing columns and blocks. With the creation of the Spacer GIF, we were able to organize our websites into formats that make sense and resemble something closer to the magazines and newspapers we were already used to. Web designs were actually starting to become complex now, and due to how thin HTML coding was being stretched to accomplish this, WYSIWYG programs were starting to be created, creating a mess of jibberish tags and 1 pixel high tables for programmers to sort through. Form had finally overtaken function.
4. Oooo, Dream Weaver!
I believe you can get me through the night.
Now, we've reached the stage where people were just doing things because they could. As the author of CssMySite.com states, anybody could now make a website, "regardless of web knowledge, design ability, or taste."
This era of web "design" is dominated by frames, flashing borders, loud backgrounds, play-on-load music, Comic Sans MS, and "Best Viewed With ____" badges. Much like the 70s, this was a necessary era to pass through, but thank God we're out of it.
5. STANDARDS!!!
Nice. Form and Function are on speaking terms again.
While we were learning a lot from our rebellious DreamWeaver/FrontPage days, programmers were trying desperately to get people to notice this lovely little thing called CSS that they had been working on for years now. With CSS, designers were able to create designs similar to the beginning days of the Tables, but without all of the sloppy marks ups and jibberish created by overusing tables.
This was allowed by separating the design elements from the information itself. The format of the website could be created and altered without depending on or messing up the content. Because of this separation, the basics of table based designs could be taken and improved upon. Increasingly more complex and interesting looking designs could be used, and thanks to the smaller file sizes, more content could be put on a website without slowing down the loading process.
6. Web 2.0
Oooo! Look at all the colors!
Web 2.0 is the unfortunate step backwards we took when the same people who had been creating the DreamWeaver/FrontPage websites started learning how to use CSS. True, their website looked a lot cleaner and more professional than their previous attempts; however, just because they had learned a thing or two about how to build a site didn't mean they had acquired any sense of good taste.
What we ended up with was some sort of twisted combination of sites that were trying not to look like an 8th grade Geocities homework project, but were trying to appeal to a mess of people who had just started using MySpace. Reflections, shadows, obnoxious fonts, and horrid colors became hallmarks of this era. Designers now had the proper tools to finish the job, but even with all the correct tools, you can still build a crooked birdhouse.
7. The Tug of War Continues...
Looks like time and space was all Form and Function really needed.
And that brings us to modern web design. We have found a happy balance of form and function, as we have learned to display information in a way that is easy to read and enjoy while maintaining some degree of professional, tasteful design. The return to grid based design has made it possible for many modern sites to integrate widgets and applications that keep you constantly connected to many of your favorite websites. The rise in smartphone technology has helped to push for designs that are simple, yet sleek and easily translate from your 40" desktop monitor to your 3" phone display.
It's actually quite unfortunate that if history continues in this pattern, we should be waiting for the pendulum to swing back towards the tacky and horrendous looking websites. I guess the silver lining is that both sides always learn something from each swing of the pendulum.
No comments:
Post a Comment